Braiding machine



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11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed N0. 25, 1929 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAY COMPANY, OF CHUSETTS EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- BBAIDING MACHINE Application filed November 25, 1929. Serial No. 409,563.

My invention relates to braiding machines, as for example, machines for braiding fiat leather strips.

The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings of a specific embodiment of the invention, the scope of which latter will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine constructed according to the invention, with details omitted; i

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine according'to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with parts omitted;

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively sections on the lines 4.4 and 5-5 of Fig. 3, with parts omitted;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation, with parts in section, of one form of carrier for the strand to be braided;

Fig. 7 is an elevation corresponding to Fig.

' 6, with the parts in a different operative position Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of theparts shown by Fig. 6 as viewed from the left of the latter figure;

Fig. 9 shows a modified form of carrier for the strand to be braided;

Figs. .10 to 14 illustrate more or less schematically successive operative steps of the beating-up mechanism for the braid;

Fig. 15 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the upper part of the machine constructed according-to Fig. 1, with parts omitted;

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are front elevations of the upper part of the machine with the presser member for the braid omitted, showing the parts in different operative positions;

Fig. 19 is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine,- with the presser member for the braid in position;

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 20-20 of Fig. '19; 1 1

Fig. 21 is a section on line 2121 of Fig. 15

Fig. 22 is an end elevation of the parts shown by Fig. 15;

Fig. 23 is a front elevation of the lower part form a braid B.

' The holders of the spools, according to the present embodiment of the invention, are

more particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2,

6, 7 and 8. Referring to these figures, the

end flanges 3 of each spool rest upon V- shaped members 5 rigidlyca'rried by vertical flat bars 7 at each end of thespool, the bars having feet 9 rigidly secured to a base 11. It will be observed, that the V-shaped members 5 rotatably support the spools, and that the vertical bars 7 prevent longitudinal movement of the spools relative to these members. For retaining the spools on the hold- I ers, herein are provided bail-members hav-.

ing the horizontally disposed portions 13 and end pieces 15, the latter pivoted at 17 (Fig. 2) to the vertical bars 7.

As shown,at the under sides of the spools 1, the bases 11 of the spool holders carry rectangular frames which surround the V- shaped'members 5, each frame having the side members 19 (Fig. 1) and end members 21 (Fig. 2), the members 21 being pivotally connected at 23 to the vertical bars 7, so that the frames can swing from their positions shown by Fig. 6 to the positions shown by Fig. 7. As shown, the side members 19 of the framesrare notched'as indicated at 25 in Fig. 8 to permit this swinging.

Each swinging .frame just described, as shown, carries a guide rod '27 for the associated strand S. These guide rods have lower portions'29 pivotall mounted in the opposite sidemembers 19 o the frames. The free ends of the lower portions 29 of the guide members 27 carry arms 31 to which are attached the ends of pairs of tension lib -braid, and, that in conjunction with the swinging frames, universal-jointconnections between the guide members and spool holders are provided.

Herein, for tensionin the strands S, the strand guide members 2 are each provided with a flat spring 37 adapted to pinch the strandbetween the end of the spring and the the two similar parts 47 and 49 (Fig. 1

adjacent surface of the guide eye 39 through which latter the strand is threaded. As

shown, an adjusting screw 41 is provided for regulating the tension of the spring 37. For relieving the tension of the strands, in casethis tension should exceed the desired maximum, as for example, if a strand should become knotted and refuse to pass through the guide eyes on one of the guide members 27, each of the latter pivotally carry at 43 a lever 45 (Fig. 6), this lever consisting of at opposite sides 0 the guide member. Atits outer end each lever 45 carries a roller 51 over which the strand passes. The other end of the lever is attached to one end of a tension spring 53, the other end of which spring the associated lever 45, these side members being connected by a transverse pin 59,

which pin strikes the spring 37 if the tens sion of the strand becomes so great as to move the lever 45 to its position shown by Fig. 7, in which position it presses said spring inward and allows a knot or the like in the strand to pass the end of the spring.

In the modification of the spool holder shown by Fi 9, instead of the V-sha ed members 5, t ree rollers 61 are provi ed, upon which rollers the end flanges 3 of the spools 1 rest. In this modification of the 1nvention the spring 53 is provided w1th a tensioning nut 63, while the strand 1s pinched between the end of a leaf sprin 65 and a roller 67. As shown in this modi cation, the spring 65 is bent to form a part 69 rest ng against the guide rod 27 so as to prov1de a fulcrum for the spring to enable its tension to be adjusted byuse of the nut 71 cooperating with a screw 73 which extends through .the guide rod and is attached to the adjacent end of the spring 69.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 the drive shaft 75 of the machine is operatlvely connected, through meshing bevel gears 77,

to a spur gear 79, the latter in mesh with a second spur gear 81. As shown, the. spur gears 79 and 81 are fixedly secured to spiders having the hub portions 83 and radiating upper and lower arms 85, the gear wheels and associated spiders being rotatably mounted on vertical spindles 87 fixedly secured to the base 89 of the machine. Rotatably mounted in the airs of upper and lower arms 85 of the spidiars, are, spindles 91 and 93, each spindle 91 havin at the upper end thereof, a spur gear 95 xedly secured thereto, while the upper end of each spindle v93 has fixedly secured thereto a ,spur gear 97 meshing with the adjacent spur gear 95. 8

and with a spur gear 99 fixedly secured to the end of the adjacent spindle 87. It will be observed by this construction, that because the spur gears 99 are stationary, the outer spur gears 95 do not rotate axially relative to the base of the machine as they are bodily rotated in a horizontal plane about the axes of the spindles 87 Herein, the gears have secured thereto, by means of screws 101 (Figs. 3 and 5), tables 103 for the spool carriers. As shown (Figs. 3 to 8) the tables 103 are provided on their upper faces with slots 104, opposite sides of which slots are beveled to form dovetail joints with the opposite beveled sides of the bases 11 for the spool holders.

As illustrated, the bases 11 are very much longer than the tables 103, the bases when engaged by the tables projecting for about one-half their lengths from the sides of the tables. Movement of said bases, relative to the tables, is controlled by spring latches 105, which latter are fitted in grooves on the under sides of the bases at opposite ends of the latter. As shown, the spring latches are provided with lugs 107 (Figs. 5, and 8) adapted to engage with the adjacent end faces of the tables 103, said bases having midway their length, at the under side thereof, downwardly projecting lugs 109 which abut with the other end faces of the tables normally to prevent, in conjunction with the latches,

movement of the bases relative to the tables. For releasing the latches, the machine is shown as provided with gear wheels 111 rotatably mounted on bearing pins 113, the latter hem carried by lates 115 rotating with the spi ers attached to the gear wheels 79 and 81. As shown (Fig. 3), each plate 115 is provided with three arms 117, one of the arms being perforated to receive a pin 119 on the ends of the adjacent spindle 93, while the central portion of the plate is perforated to receive a screw 121 screwed into theends of the adjacent spindle 87. The screws 121 in conjunction with the keys 125 act to secure gear wheels 123. which latter mesh with the gear wheels 111 fixedly to the'ends of the the gear wheels 111 are rotated axially on their bearings 113 as they are rotated bodily about the axis of the spindles 87. Herein, the gear wheels 111 on their upper faces have raised cam portions 127 which act to engage with the outer ends of the spring fingers 105 to raise the latter to disengage the. lugs 107 carried by said spring fingers from the tables 103, and thus perm tthe bases 11 to be slid from engagement with those tables 103 which are carried by the'spid'er on one of the gear wheels 79, 81 to those tables which are carried by the spider on the other of these gear wheels.

As clearly indicated by Figs. 3, 5 and 8, if the gear wheels 7 9, 81 rotate in the directions of the arrows shown by Fig. 3, the portion of the base 11 projecting from the right. hand side of the table 103 at the lower right hand part of the spider on the gear wheel 81 will be received by the slot 104 of the table 103 at the upper right hand part of Fig. 3 when the two tables are moved into close relation with each other. lVhen the two tables are directly opposite each other, the latch at the right hand end of the base 11 (Fig. will be raised by one of the cam portions 127 to disengage said base from the tab-1e associated with the gear wheel 81 and the latch at the right hand end of the base will snap into engagement with the right hand side of the table 103 associated with the gearwheel 79. This action will transfer the spool holder to the table 103 associated with the gear wheel 79. In this way the holders for the spools of strand are alternately transferred from one to the other of the spiders associated with the gear wheels 79 and 81, and are therefore caused to traverse the path of afigure 8 for laying the strand to form a braid.

As. shown, the machine comprises a pair of vertical standards 129, from the upper portions of which project horizontal arms 131 rotatably supporting a cam shaft 133, the latter driven through the meshing bevel gears 135, vertical shaft 137 and meshing bevel gears 139 by the drive shaft 75 of the machine. Below the horizontal arms 131 are horizontal arms 141 which support the opposite ends of a stationary arbor 143 (Figs. 1 and 2). As shown, the arbor 143 at the central portion thereof carries a forwardly projecting arm 145 adjustably secured thereto by a set screw 147 (Figs. 20 and 21). At its upper side the outer end of the arm 145 carries a guide piece 149 (Figs. 1, 20, 21 and 22) coextensive in width with the arm 145, over which guide piece the braid passes.

As shown (Figs. 15, 19, 20 and 21), supported on the cam shaft 133 is an arm 151 to the end of which is pivotally secured, by pins 153, a carrier 155 for a pair of rollers 157 and 159, which rollers rest against the side of the braid opposite the guide piece 149. The guide faces of these .rollers are concave and therefore act to guide the braid over the guide piece 149. As shown in Figs. 21 and 22, the projecting ends of the pivot pins 153 securing the roller holders 155 to the arms 151 are releasably engaged by opposite sides of a bail-like hook member 161 secured to a rod 163, Which latter may be placed under tension in any suitable manner, as for example, by a spring (not shown), for holding the rollers 157 and 159 releasably in contact with the portion of the braid passing over the guide piece 149. If desired, the sides of the hook member 161, engaging the pins 153 at opposite sides of the arm 151, may be connected by a forwardly projecting portion 164 (Fig. 21) or by a rearwardly projecting portion 165 (Fig. 20) which latter engages with the rear side of the arm 151.

As shown (Fig. 20) the end of the arm 145 may be provided with a roller 167 with which, if desired, may cooperate a p resser member 169, although the latter is not essential for all forms of strand being braided. As shown, the presser member 169 has an end portion 171 which rests against the cam shaft 133, an

As illustrated, for operating the hooked members 175, their rearward ends are piv-, otally attached to the ends of levers 179 (Fig. 15) fulcrumed on pins 181, the latter carried on the ends of arms 183 attached to the standards 129. The levers 179 at points between their ends are connected by links 185 to the intermediate portions of levers 187, (Fig. 2), the latter fulcrumed at one end on the arbor 143' and at their other ends having rollers 189 cooperating with cams 191, which cams are driven by the cam shaft 133. The rollers 189 are held in engagement with the cams 191 by the tension springs 193, which at one of their ends are fixed to lugs 195 (Fig. 15) carried by the levers 17 9, and at their other ends are fixed to the arms 131.

Near their forward ends, the wires or hooks 175 are slidably supported by lugs 197 (Figs. 10, 20) carried by and projecting laterally from the arm 145 at the forward end thereof, said lugs on the upper face thereof having the upstanding portions 199 at their outer cornersfor guiding the wires. The cams 191. are so shaped as to cause the levers 179 to be swung back and forth in timed relation to the movements of the spools of strand, so that the hooks 17 5 will alternately engage the portions of the strands adjacent the end of the braid being formed and pull the middle strand over the immediately adjacent strand and under the remaining strand. It will be inward. with the result that it abruptly hooks about the center strand and pulls it sharply backward in braiding direction, that is to say, in a direction which, generally speaking, is roughly tangent to the helix followed by the strand through the braid.

The operation of the hook members 175 is clearly illustrated by Figs. 10 to 14 and 16 to 18. Following through Figs. 10 to 14 it will be observed that the right hand hook member'l75 from its position in Fig. 10 progressively moves longitudinally forward and swings to the left to the position in Fig. 12, and then moves longitudinally inward and swings to the right to engage the middle strand, as shown by Fig. 13, and then pulls said strand to the right over the left hand strand and under the remaining strand. This action of the right hand hook member 175, as viewed in Figs. 10 to 14, is effected by the low portion 201 of the cam 191. While this action is taking place, the left hand hook member 17 5, as viewed in Figs. 10 to 14, is

on the concentric portion 192 of the cam,- which holds the left hand strand approxi-- mately under tension in braiding direction until the position of parts shown by Fig. 13 is reached, when the left hand hook member 175 begins to move forward and to the right to engage the center strand shown in Fig. 14, at which time the guide member 27 associated with the spool for the left hand strand in Fig. 14 is in such position as to hold said strand at an angle to the end of the braid.

Herein, mechanism is provided for beatingup the braid said mechanism, as illustrated, comprising movable fingers 203 about which the strands are laid. These fingers, heroin, also act to feed the braid in timed relation to the movements of the spools 1 and hooks or needles 17 5 so that a uniform braiding action will be had, and. further prevent distortion of the braid by holding in proper relation to the braid the strands which are pulled sideways by said hooks or needles.

As shown, thefingers 203 are carried. at the ends of bars 205 (Figs. 15, 22) to which bars said fingers are'secured by clamps 207 so as to project laterally from the bars. As shown in Fig. 22, the bars 205 are slidably mounted in slots 209 on the under side of the outer end portions of lower legs 211 of'bellcrank levers, the other legs 213 of said bellcrank levers at their outer ends carrying blocks 215 (Fig. 21) fitting the cam grooves 217 (Fig. 15) of V-shape cross-section formed in the cam members 219, the latter rotated by the cam shaft 133. As shown (Figs. 1, 2 and 15) the bell-crank levers having the arms 211 and 213 are mounted on collars 221 rotatably mounted on the arbor" 143, these collars being held against longitudinal movement on the arbor by suitable spacing collars 223, the outer spacing collars being secured in nonrotatable relation to said arbor by set screws 225. As shown, the bell-crank levers have arcuate portions 226 connecting the legs 211 and 213 and spaced from and partially surrounding the collars 221. At diametrically opposite sides of the collars 211, the portions 226 of the bell-crank levers carry pivot pins 227 which pivotally connect the bell-crank levers to the collars. By this construction, it will be observed, the bell-crank levers have a universal oint connection to the arbor 143. Surrounding the collars 123 are coiled torsion springs 229, one of the ends of which engages with the set screws 225, and the other ends with the pins 227, so that the cam follower-blocks 215 on the ends of the arms 213 of the bell-crank levers are held by the tension of the springs in engagement with the cam grooves 217.

In Figs. 1 and 15 to 19 it will be observed that the cam grooves 217 formed in the cams 219 have the laterally offset portions 231 which act to swing the bell-crank levers having the arms 211 and 213 to the right and left. As shown in Figs. 20 and 21, the cams 219 have the concentric portions 233 and the low portions 235, the resulting cam profile acting to oscillate the bell-crank levers in a vertical plane. As a result of these two motions given the bell-crank lever the fingers 203 reciprocate longitudinally and are moved transgersgly toward and away from the end of the As shown (see particularly Figs. 15, 21 and 22) the bar 145 has projecting from opposite sides thereof a horizontal rod .237, this rod carrying stationary cylindrical cam members comprising the large diameter portions 239 and the small diameter portions 241, which portions are connected by the frusto-conical portions 243. The bars 205 carrying the fingers 203, said bars slidably mounted n the bell-crank arms 211, carry vertical lug members 245 formed integrally with the clamping pieces 207. The springs 247, attached at one end to the bars 205, and at their other ends to the arms 211, urge said bars inwardly of the arms 211 to hold the lug members 245 against the cam surfaces afforded by thecam parts 239, 243 and 241, with the result that when the arms 211 are swunghorizontally away from the braid, as viewed in Fig. ,15, to with draw the fingers 203 from'the braid (see Figs. 12 and 17), the lug members 245 ride down the frusto-conical cam portions 243 and move the fingers to behind those strands which are at the same sides of the braid as the fingers, and at the same time the arms 211 move downward to position the fingers below the end of the braid where the strands are spread apart (see Fig. 17), so that when the fingers are mentioned strand against the lower needle the hook 175 in Fig. 14, will be beaten-up into the braid. While one finger is moving from its lower to its upper position the other finger, say for example the left hand finger in Figs. 13 and 14, will remain stationary and preferably hold the end of the braid against the roller 167 (Fig. 20), so that 'a' uniform braid will beformed.

Fig. 10 shows the position of parts when the left hand strand of that figure has been pulled to the left and backward about the upper finger 203 in braiding direction, and

the left hand or lower finger has moved to its upper position to beat-up said strand into the braid. The two fingers 203 then move upward to the position shown by Fig. 11, the distance moved being that of one pick so as to determine the pitch of the braid. The right hand finger 203 is then withdrawn from the braid (Fig. 12) and moved downwardly and then inwardly to the position shown by Fig. 13, and then is moved upwardly to the position shown by Fig. 14 to beat-up the right hand strand into the braid. The left hand finger 203 of Fig. 14 then moves in a manner fingers move upward the distance of one pick before the next strand is pulled in braiding direction by the appropriate hook and beaten- "up by the next successively acting finger.

As illustrated, the braid B passes over a 1 feed roll 253 (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted on a shaft 255 rotatably carried by brackets 257 secured to the standards 129. At one end the shaft 255 carries a pulley 259 about which passes a crossed belt 261 driven by a belt pulley 263 on the cam shaft 133. A heavy roll 265, rotatably supported on arms 267 pivoted to the standards 129 at 269, presses against the upper side of the braid B so that the feed roll 253 will be enabled to move the braid.

According to ,a modified form of the in vention, suitable mechanism may be provided for stopping the operation of the machine upon breaking of a strand or exhaustion of the strand on one of the spools. Here in, for this purpose (Figs. 23 to 26) the drive shaft 75 of the machine may carry a fixed pulley 271 and a loose pulley 273 about which pulleys is adapted to pass the driving belt 275. As shown, the frame of the machine is rovided with a pair of vertical standards 277 which carry a bar 279 having the end flanges 281 (Fig. 26). As illustrated,abutting with the left hand flange 281 is a sleeve 283, both flanges 281 having perforations aligned with the sleeve, and through these perforations and the sleeve extends a belt shifter rod 285 having pins 287 for providing a fork for engaging the belt. A spring 289, which surrounds the rod and bears at one end against the sleeve 283-and at its other end against the collar 291 fixed to the rod, ur es the belt shifter to the right, as viewed in Tigs. 23 and 26, to shift the belt from the fixed to the loose pulley. Herein, the collar 291 has a laterally extending pin 293 which projects through a longitudinal slot 295 formed in the bar 279, the outer end of this pin carrying an operating handle 297 for the belt shifter. Pivoted on the bar 279 at 299 is a bell-crank lever having the vertical leg 301 and horizontal leg 303, the leg 301 having an arm 305, which is notched as indicated at 307, for engaging with the pin 293 when the handle 297 is pushed to move the belt 275 to place the latter on the fixed pulley 271. The bell-crank lever just described is held iIithe position shown by Flg. 23 by a spring 309 which at one end is connected to the bar 279 and at its other end to the vertical leg 311 of a bell-crank lever pivoted at 131 and having a horizontal leg 315, the end of the latter fitting in a notch 317 on the end of the horizontal leg 303 of theother bell-crank lever. It will be noted that the two pivots 299 and 213 for the respective bell-crank'levers are in alignment with the pin 293, which enables a slight tension on the sprlng 309 readly to hold the lit are tilted as shown in Fig. 24, said lugs 319 in Fig. 23, and therefore that these motionswill clear the upper endsof said legs. The bell-crank levers, above described, for shifting the belt 27 5,.are placed at the front of the machine, and it will be observed from Fig. 2 that the said frames which are at the front of the machine aretilted into the position shown by Fig. 24, so that, unless the strand breaks or is exhausted, the automatic belt shiftingmechanism will not be operated;

otherwise, the absence of the tension-of the strand will permit the frames to be in the position indicated by Fig. 25 when they are at the front of the machine, and in consequence one or the other of the upwardly extending legs 301 and 311 of the bell-crank levers will be struck by the lugs 319 to disengage the pin 293 from the latch lever 305 to allow the spring 289 to move the rod 285 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 26, and shift the belt from the fast to the loose pulley. It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the carriers for the spools at the front of the machine move from the ends of the machine toward its medial transverse plane, as viewed are in the proper direction to actuate the belt shitting mechanism.

It will be understood that wide deviations may be made from the specific embodiment of the invention herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand to lay aflat plaited braid in which the same side. of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, means acting to pull the portions of the successive middle strands coming outof the end of the braid alternately to opposite sides of the braid, beating-up mechanism. operating upon said portions of said strands when so pulled, and means for operating said means for pulling said middle strands and said beating-up mechanism coordinately with each other and with the movements of said reservoirs.

2. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand to lay a flat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, means operated 'co-' ordinately with the movements of said reservoirs for engaging said strands 'at the portions thereof which are adjacent the end of the braid being formed and acting to pull successive strands across the end of the braid alternately to opposite sides thereof in braiding directions, and strand engaging'me'ans operated coordinately with the movements of said reservoirs and with'said means for engaging said strands for holding and guiding the portions of said strands at the end of the braid when so pulled and for beating-up said strands into the braid.

3. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand to lay a flat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, means for pulling the strands in front of the end of the braid-successively in braiding direction, means for beating-up the strands so pulled, and means for successively carrying the braid a distance of one pick between the completions of the beating-up of successive strands, and means for operating said means for pulling said strands, said means for beating-up said strands, and said means for carrying the braid a distance of one pic-k coordinately With each other and with the movements of said reservoirs.

4., A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of flat strand to lay a flat plaited braid, means operated coordinately with the movementsof said reservoirs for pulling the portions of successive strands adjacent the end of said braid alternately to opposite sides of the braid, and means operated coordinately with the movements of said reservoirs for guiding said portions of said strands flatwise into the braidwith the same side of each strand always at the same side of the braid and for beating-up saidstrands' when so pulled and for carry-v ing said braid a distance of one pick between completions of the beating-up operations.

5. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand .to lay a flat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, means for engaging said strands at the portions thereof which are adjacent the end of the braid being formed,

said means operated coordinately with the movements of said reservoirs and acting to engage the last successive strand braided and hold it at the side of the braid at an angle thereto and to pull the next successive strand across the braid to the opposite side thereof, then while holding the last mentioned strand in the position to which it has beenpulled to engage the following successive strand and pull it to the first mentioned side of the braid at an angle thereto.

6. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand to lay a flat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, and mechanism to lay a flat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, mechanism operating upon said strands adjacent the end of the braid being formed comprising a plurality of needles and means for operating the same coordinately with the movements of said reservoirs acting to pull successive strands alternately to opposite sides of the braid in substantially braiding direction, and means for holding the end of the braid against movement influenced by said pulling of the strands.

8. A braiding machine having, in combination, beating-up mechanism comprising members adapted slidably to support the sides of substantially flat-sided strands as they are laid into the braid, means for moving reservoirs of strand to place the strands fiatwise over said members and slide them transversely thereon to lay a fiat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, and means for operating said beating-up mechanism coordinately with the movements of said reservoirs.

9. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand to lay a fiat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, beating-up mechanism comprising fingers positioned 'at the end of the braid being formed and adapted slidably to support the sides of substantially flat-sided strands as they are laid into the braid; and means for moving said fingers coordinately with said reservoirs to cause said strands to be placed flatwise on said fingers and slid transversely thereon into-the braid,

and for moving said fingers transverselythereof alternately toward and away from the end of the braid for beating-up said strands.

10. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand to lay a. flat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same sidelof the braid, fingers at.the end of the braid being formed, said strands being braided flatwise about said fingers transversely thereof, and finger-operating-means actuated coordinately with the movement of said reservoirs for moving said fingers" to withdraw them successively from the braid and place them in front of the end of the braid in spaced relation to said end and then move them toward the end of the braid,

, whereby strands are beaten-upbetween said fingers.

11. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand tolay a flat plaited braid in which the same side of each strand is continuously at the same sideof the braid, fingers at the end of the braid being formed, said strands being braided fiatwise about said fingers transversely thereof, and fingcroperating-means actuated coordinately with the movement of said reservoirs for moving said fingers to withdraw them successively from the braid and place them between strands in spaced relation to the end of the-braid and then move them to the end of the braid, whereby strands are beaten-up between said fingers, and then to move said fingers simultaneously and transversely a predetermined distance for carrying said braid the distance of one pick. I

12. A braiding machine having, in combination, holders for reservoirs of strand, a pair of rotary members each having tables for said holders, said holders and tables having cooperating portions for removably securing them to each other whereby said holders may be transferred from the tables of one rotary member to the tables of the other rotary member, said rotary members being timed to cause a holder on a table of one rotary member to engage with the'table of the other rotary member when said tables approach each other, latch means for causing said holders to be locked to said tables, and means for operating said latch means into unlocked position to permit said holders to be transferred from the tables of one rotary member to the tables of the other rotary member.

13. A braiding machine having, in combination, holders for reservoirs of strand, a pair of rotary members, means for detachably securing said holders to said rotary members and for transferring them from one rotary member to the other, upwardly extending arms having universal joint connections to said holders, holding means for the means and being carried for swinging movement relative to said holders.

15. A braiding machine having, in combination, holders for reservoirs of strand, means for moving said holders to lay a braid, holding means for the end of the braid being formed, upwardly extending arms moving with said holders for guiding the strands to adjacent said holding means, said'arms being carried for swinging movement relative means for moving said holders to lay a braid,

holdin means for the end of the braid being forme upwardly extending arms moving with said holders for guiding the strands to adjacent said holding means, said arms being carried for swinging movement relative to said holders; strand tensioning means carried bysaid arms, and movable means operated by said strands for releasing said tensioning means upon the tension in said strands exceeding a predetermined value.

17. A braiding'machine for forming flat plaited braidhaving, in' combination, carriers for holding spools of flat-strand in horizontal position, means for movin said carriers to lay the stands into said raid withv the same sides of said strands continuously at the same 'side of said braid, means for guiding said strandsjrom said spools to the end of the braid being formed comprising arms carried in'swinging relation to saidcarriers, and means operated coordinately with the movements of said carriers for beating-up said strands as they are laidinto the braid. y 4

18. A braiding machine having, in combination, holders for reservoirs of strand, holder-actuating-means for moving said holders to lay a braid, guiding arms for directing and guiding the strands carried b said hold-.

ers to adjacent the end of the raid being formed, said arms being carried by said hold-- ers in movablerelation thereto; means for tensioning said'strands, whereby, when said strands are under tension, said iding arms are held inone relation to said olders, and, when said strands are broken or the strands in said reservoirs are exhausted, said guid in arms are held in another relation to's'aid ho ders; power-means for driving said hold- ;er-actuating-means, and trip mechanism actuated into release position by movement of said arms to'their last named position for disconnecting said power-means from saidholder-actuating-means.

' 19. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand to lay a braid, guiding means for the end of the braid being formed, tens'ioning means for the strands, a plurality of fingers about which the strands are braided transversely: of said fingers; finger-operatingmeans for moving said fingers simultaneous; ly and transversely the distance of one picli while said fingers are in the braid, successively withdrawing said fingers from the braid and placing them alternately one in advance of the other in spaced relation, and

portions of said strands adjacent said fingers, said members being operative to pull said strands over said fingers across the braid in braiding directions. 1

20. A braiding machine having, in combination, means for moving reservoirs of strand to lay a flat plaited braid in which'the sameside of each strand is continuously at the same side of the braid, means acting to pull the portions of said strands coming out of the end of the braid across said end substantially in braiding direction, beating-up mechanism for operating upon said portions of said strands when so pulled, and means for operatng said means for pulling said strands and said beating-up mechanism 'coordinately with each other and with the movements of said reservoirs.

21. braiding machine for plaitihg a fiat braid having, in combination, holders for reservoirs of strand, a pair of rotary mem-.

bers each having pivotal tables for said holders, said rotary members being timed to bring said tables progressively opposite each other, means for maintaining said tables in substantially parallel relation as said members are rotated, said tables and holders having cooperating portions fofrremovablysecuring them together, and means fortransferring said holders from the table of one rotary member to the table ofv the other rotary member when said tables are opposite each other comprising a part associated with each holder for engaging a cooperating part associated with the table'to which the holder .is to be transferred.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' FRANK W. MERRIOK, 

